Lessons for Mexico: How to Defeat Authoritarianism

The case of Venezuela shows this. But even under these conditions, the defeat of the system weakens it, both in the face of the international community and internally, opening the space for a transition to democracy, even if it takes years and faces continuous obstacles. Defeating it, to eliminate the illegal actions carried out since the coup, would allow Mexico a new opportunity. When there are separate games, to achieve some governorship, a few senate seats, or simply personal benefits, victory becomes impossible. He was defeated by a former colleague of his, who two years ago decided to leave the party and become a candidate from a practically unknown organization. If we remain in this situation, deterioration will continue to be our destiny. Avoiding it requires renewal in the parties, as well as the arrival of new political forces. Today he has two-thirds of the Parliament. These are two examples of how an election can be won by the opposition, even in authoritarian systems. Since 2024, Maduro ceased to be legitimate, and therefore became vulnerable. I believe the lessons are important for Mexico, where we witness the concentration of power in a single person, who now disputes the presidency for the leadership of a movement that, thanks to a coup, controls the three federal powers. It would seem that everything is in his hands, but it seemed the same in Venezuela and Hungary. The cracks are there: on the one hand, there will still be elections; on the other, the group in power is no longer united. Third, a structure must be built capable of mobilizing the vote, monitoring it, documenting it, and defending it. Winning the election does not imply achieving power, certainly. That requires, as we said: leadership, unity, and structure. Failures in the three dimensions allowed the group in power to maintain a simple majority in 2021 (unity was lacking), to win in 2024 (everything failed), and for the moment to consider itself hegemonic. Secondly, the opposition must be united behind that leader. In a few days, this group will choose three electoral counselors to completely dominate the INE, as it already does in the TEPJF and in the Supreme Court. However, at the international level, the opposition managed to demonstrate, with official records, their defeat and the illegal extension of his government. The party leaders do not seem to be up to the moment we are living in, more interested in personal benefits than in the future of the country. When there is a crack, no matter how small, there is the possibility of defeating authoritarianism. But that requires several things. It is not the case of Cuba or Iran, where one can speak more of totalitarianism, with a political regime that does not allow opposition in elections. With that excuse, the United States extracted him from Venezuela to prosecute him, not as president of his country, but as the leader of a criminal group. This Sunday, Viktor Orbán was defeated in Hungary, after three decades as prime minister, during which he concentrated all power. Except at the local level, in 2027 leadership is not so important, but there is an evident lack of unity in the opposition, and therefore the lack of structure. The opportunity will come later. Despite having almost absolute control of the process, Maduro did not achieve victory, but refused to leave power. Almost two years ago, the Venezuelan opposition managed to defeat Nicolás Maduro at the polls. I think the guide is clear, what is missing is the will and the courage. Next year, the application of the three dimensions mentioned can be reflected in governorships, but also in a balance in the Congress. Undoubtedly, strong candidates, as was the case of María Corina Machado (replaced by Edmundo González, but always with María Corina's support), or that of Péter Magyar.